The Hitchhiker: Venezuelan-immigrant now American citizen reborn crooner, located in the heart of Louisiana. Baton Rouge, who came to the USA under political asylum, Has a whole lot to say and lay down on the table.
"A traveler? a vagabond? All these terms describe a hitchhiker. Perhaps songwriter Luis Mariani is none of them, but he might be all three". --- Dig Magazine, Baton Rouge, LA.
January, winter of 2015 marks the overdue release of Mariani and the boys' new studio production. Their 3rd release, "Thunder & Lightning" a follow up to their previous "Get Into It" EP.
Mariani cut his teeth as touring guitarist for the nationally known band "Maylene and the Sons of Disaster
The Band: A Group of good ole south Louisiana music scene boys, Mark DuPont on Drums and Backing Vocals, plus Casey Wells and Jude Dupont, both on guitars and backing vocals, plus Luis Mariani as Lead vocalist, guitarist and main songwriter.
- The Hitchhiker has performed with Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders, Local H, Rosco Bandana, 10 Years, Underoath, Scott H Biram, Eagles of Death Metal, American Fangs, Maylene & The Sons of Disaster, Meriwether, Dax Riggs, Michael Shannon and other touring acts.
You want it. We got it. Get shocked...
225 Magazine came and hung out while we tracked our latest "Thunder & Lightning" EP.
Check out what went down!
http://www.225batonrouge.com/entertainment/studio-hitchhiker
February 28th at The Spanish Moon with Local H.
April 3rd at The Ghostlight Theater in Hammond, LA with Jason Martin and England in 1819
The guys are going to do studio rehearsal for new material, starting next week, for what seems to be a new EP/Full length on the works.
Stay tuned for more news and video updates!
Love, Luis.
Check out our "Shows" section for more info.
On Monday afternoon, Luis Mariani is a bit tired. A nagging leg and back injury isn't helping. However, he's excited, maybe even a bit anxious.
Mariani's band The Hitchhiker will release its debut EP, Get Into It Friday. The band will perform at The Varsity Theatre with Gold and the Rush and Jason Martin & The Corner Pocket. Doors open at 8 p.m. The show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available here.
The 26-year-old rocker was born in Venezuela and moved to Louisiana eight years ago. If I didn't know any better, I'd guess that passion was his middle name. For him, rock 'n' roll is 24/7. It's not only a musical genre; it's a lifestyle, and that lifestyle means being honest to oneself.
Matthew Sigur: Was there a culture shock moving here?
Luis Mariani: No. Not really. When I was a kid, I visited a big part of the United States, most of the states, and you could really tell the difference between people from Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. In Louisiana, it's completely different. The people are very friendly; so I didn't have a hard time. I was lucky to meet great people who have helped me out along the way. It was different for my folks. They were starting a new life here. For me, I guess I came at the right time, right in the middle of realizing who you are at that point. That's when I realized who I wanted to be, the type of person I wanted to be. I always say I was born in Venezuela, but here is where I became who I am today.
MS: Was it at that age when you decided you wanted to play music?
LM: No. I wanted to be a fighter pilot. I was going to Air Force Academy in Venezuela. When I got here, I finished high school and was like, “Now what?” I started picking up little jobs here and there. I actually worked at Mi Padres, that Mexican restaurant right there. That was my first job. I was bussing tables. I was not doing anything, though, really. I painted houses. I was gardening, not knowing what I was going to do. One day, I heard a song on the radio I really liked. I've always been musically inclined. My dad played music. My brother didn't play but he showed me bands growing up. I was never interested in playing, but I heard this song and I said, "I got a few dollars saved up. I'm going to buy this guitar so I could learn this song.”
MS: What song was it?
LM: I think it was like Stone Temple Pilots' “Dead and Bloated.” Either that or Dave Matthews Band's “Where Are You Going.” Something cheesy like that.
MS: You've played with many local bands, and you mentioned touring with Maylene and the Sons of Disaster. What happened on tour to make you come back and say I want to take my material seriously?
LM: I don't know, man. It's just…you jump in a van with people you really don't know. Some people aren't used to how you are, and you're not used to how they are. I was treated right. I did my job. I learned my songs, and I played them. I realized that I've got to do my own thing. I can't settle for anyone else's stuff. I want to have something to show for me, that I put 100% into it. The musicians we've got in this band, they're some of the best. They're awesome dudes, great friends. I realized I was lucky to have that in front of me. You just don't find that. It would've been horrible to let that go.
MS: You've been a part of this scene for a while now. For me, I see a pattern where you'll have the group of people who complain about the scene, then the people who perform come back and say, “No, we have a scene.” What's it like to you?
LM: I'm going to be straight up with you. I don't think there's every really been a scene. I only say this in comparison, being on the road. You go from city to city, and the amount of people changes. If you go play in Atlanta and you get 50 kids, and then you play in Macon, and you've got 500 kids, obviously there's a scene in Macon. Here, I've been lucky to become friends with people in the "scene," which is completely dissected into parts. You have this crew that plays with these guys, and those guys play at this place. I've been lucky to know all them, play with all them at this venue. I don't know. I just play. I think that one of the goals should be to integrate and shut the hell up and play music. Be cool and do it.
MS: Also, don't discount the fact that with all those groups, there's been a heavy level of respect between you and those people.
LM: Yeah. I've never been disrespected around here. I've found a lot of support from people here. I can't complain about that and I won't, regardless of what the scene is. Because everywhere I went, people have been cool. It sucks because there's more talent in this town than in the next 30 states around it. People are like, "You've got to go to L.A. to get signed," and it's like, "No, dude."
MS: Well that's what interests me about your music, too, is that you're playing rock 'n' roll when a lot of people have no real clue as to what rock 'n' roll is.
LM: To me, it's like being integral, respectful, paying dues, and being yourself. Townes Van Zandt…to me, the greatest singer-songwriter the United States ever had. He's one of my favorites. That dude wasn't playing a Gibson through a Marshall. He was playing a piece of crap acoustic guitar, writing songs. That dude was rock 'n' roll. He believed in that, and in a certain way of doing things that represented what rock 'n' roll was. He didn't go out there and say, “Oh, I'm a rock' n' roll dude.” He just played.
MS: Well, before we leave, talking about rock 'n' roll. What do you think of when you think of rock 'n' roll music?
LM: When people come to see your show, and you charge them $10 at the door, they better get their money's worth. In reality, to be honest with yourself, with the music you write. It's honesty. Being real, kicking ass, and doing what you have to do. Not worrying about anyone but doing what you have to do. It's hard work. Keep in mind everything that's brought you to this moment right now and don't forget where you came from. Educate yourself, too. It doesn't matter if you're 35, and you ask yourself what is rock 'n' roll? Go back and do that research.
MS: It's interesting how many people don't do that.
LM: People don't know it exists. I don't like Nirvana, but there are kids today who don't know who Nirvana is. Like, really dude. Go on social networks, and people are like, "What is this?" [This is the album that] changed music. For better or worse. It's a big part of American culture.
MS: Everything's for free, now, too. We could talk for days on this.
LM: Oh yeah. Technology ruined everything, too. I remember…the art of tracklisting, why this song is here and why this song follows this. It's a part of writing an album. Now, that's gone because iTunes, you can buy one song off an album. Back then, you buy the whole CD, you listen to it. Now, you're just like I buy one track, because I got what I wanted. Everything else is crap. Imagine buying a Pink Floyd album as a kid today. I'll just buy “Comfortably Numb” from The Wall. What about the rest of the album, dude?
MS: It's amazing to me. If you look at the history of it, it happened not too long ago. When I was 13, I would still go buy CDs every week.
LM: Oh yeah. I remember coming to visit the states and I would buy a bunch of CDs. I had a huge CD case. Nobody has a CD case anymore.
Check out the rest of the interview at this link!!!:
http://www.225batonrouge.com/732013/Whats_the_big_picture/One_fourth_of_The_Hitchhiker_talks_rock_n_roll_